Class Description

The purpose of this non-credit course is to introduce graduate students, with no prior teaching experience, to basic pedagogical concepts and practices so that they can survive and thrive in their first teaching assignments in a classroom,laboratory, or tutorial setting. Although grounded in sound pedagogical theory, this course will encourage the development of practical skills and strategies that can be immediately implemented in the participants' classrooms.

Modeling a variety of teaching and learning strategies, the instructors will facilitate participants’ exploration of topics such as teaching roles and responsibilities, lesson planning, teaching and learning styles and strategies, and assessment and evaluation. Participants will also put their learning into practice by teaching two 5-minute micro-lessons, gaining valuable feedback from their instructors and peers, and by beginning to develop a reflective teaching practice.

Classes run every Wednesday, from January 25th, to April 4th, from 2:00 to 4:30 (2:00-5:00 on micro-teaching days). The class convenes in room 1E85 of the Agriculture Building. Application forms must be submitted by January 18th.

Graduate students with some teaching experience should consider taking "GSR 989: Introduction to University Teaching", a course that delves more deeply into teaching theory and philosophy.

Course Requirements

To take this course, you must be registered as a graduate student in Term Two. We ask that only those apply who are committed to attending each class, and to completing all readings and assignments, since enrolment in the course is limited to 30 students and spaces are valuable.

To successfully complete the course, two micro-teaching lessons must be completed, as well as:

• the Teaching Perspectives Inventory
• Learning and Personality Inventories
• Micro-teaching Lesson Plans (2)
• Assessment Rubric

The required textbook for the course is to Tools for Teaching,the Second Edition, by Barbara Gross Davis, available in the Campus Bookstore.

Course Outline

Tentative Class Outline and Hours Required (class is held every Wednesday, from January 25th to April 4th in room 1E85 of the Agriculture Building.)

Class One, January 25th, 2.5 hours:

• introduction to the course

Lesson Planning:

• BOPPPS model
• learning about learning objectives
• Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives
• introduction to micro-teaching and giving feedback

Class Two, February 1st, 2.5 hours, Your Teaching Self

• teaching identity and authenticity; roles and responsibilities
• basic introduction to teaching metaphor and philosophy
• basic introduction to teaching portfolios

Class Three, February 8th, 2.5 hours, Learning Styles and Other Factors Affecting Student Learning:

• student learning style and personality types
• student diversity

Class Four, February 14th, 3 hours, Micro-teaching

Class Five, February 28th, 3 hours, Micro-teaching

Class Six, March 7th, 2.5 hours, Teaching Styles and Strategies

• looking at our Teaching Perspective Inventories
• exploring various teaching strategies

Class Seven, March 14th, 2.5 hours, Assessment and Evaluation

• the difference between assessment and evaluation
• alignment of objectives, planning, strategies, and assessment & evaluation

Class Eight, March 21st, 3 hours, Micro-teaching

Class Nine, March 28th, 3 hours, Micro-teaching

Class Ten, April 4th, 2.5 hours, Course Wrap-up

• Being a reflective teacher (using formative and summative evaluation)
• Muddiest points from the course
• Panel of GSR 989 and 982 graduates, sharing, "What I WIsh I'd Known Before Staring This Job"

Application Process

To apply for this course, please fill out the application form and submit it to:

The Gwenna Moss Centre For Teaching Effectiveness

Attn: Tereigh Ewert-Bauer
50 Murray Building, 3 Campus Drive
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A4.

Application Form

Space in the course is determined on a first come, first served basis. 30 applications will be accepted. Successful applicants will be notified via email. Additional applicants will be contacted to determine whether they want to be placed on a waiting list.

Inquiries may be directed to Tereigh Ewert-Bauer by email (tereigh.ewert-bauer@usask.ca) or phone (306.966.6321).